Columbia Spy

The meeting packet is HERE.

The meeting packet is HERE.

 This week’s photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

More work on the railroad 

The ol’ engine at Rail Mechanical 

On Saturday morning, community groups united to clean up leaves. The effort included members of the Columbia Park Rangers, Old Public Grounds, Lions Club, Borough Highway Department, and National Honor Society, who worked together at multiple locations including Locust Street Park, the Columbia Library, and Janson Park.

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Yes, there was fog.

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Signs of the season . . .

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Skids of stones at the Reading & Columbia Railroad building 

Burger King’s getting a makeover.

The lights are on at the post office, for now. 

At the pawn shop on Locust 

Monday morning in Columbia: The town looks hung over.

A possible weather forecast. 

Shawnee Run near Mill Street 

WARNING 

A van with solar panels and Astroturf . . .

. . . but no license plate (?)

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Wreaths were placed at Mount Bethel on Saturday for Wreaths across America. 

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More signs of Christmas . . .

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Leave a message on Chestnut.

Still holding on

The 200 block of South 4th was closed, but there was no message from textmygov.

This bracket is actually . . .

. . . a hiding place.

Cellphone pics

Full moon

An angel lighting up the night

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The Columbia Dream Center brought holiday cheer to 360 children and 124 families during its Kidz Christmas celebration this morning at Columbia Presbyterian Church. Hosted at 360 Locust Street, the gathering featured visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, face painting, and refreshments, including cookies and hot chocolate.

[Submitted photos]

J.K. Tobacco Outlet Inc., 846 Lancaster Ave., Columbia, Dec. 5. Pass. Observed one half-gallon of 2% milk, beyond the sell-by date, being offered for sale. Food facility is offering for sale Get Stoned Pure THC-A Gummies and Surge THC Company Pure THC Gummies, which contain an unapproved additive as specified in 21 CFR 170-180 relating to food additives. Such products are under U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation and at which time CBD is not recognizable as a safe substance to be added to food. Observed bedding, a stove, and clutter in the food facility, indicating use of the food facility as living or sleeping quarters.

Lancaster County Commissioners Ray D’Agostino (left) and Josh Parsons

Lancaster County’s two Republican commissioners blocked the county’s budget director from answering questions about the 2025 budget during and after a public meeting Thursday, the day after commissioners approved the budget in a split 2-1 vote.

The incident took place at a Lancaster County Investment Board meeting Thursday. Democratic Commissioner Alice Yoder and Republican county Treasurer Amber Martin later described the behavior of Commissioners Josh Parsons and Ray D’Agostino as “despicable.”

The tense back-and-forth at Thursday’s meeting was a stark example of the extent the two Republican commissioners have gone to restrict county employees from answering questions about county business in a public forum.

At the meeting, former county Commissioner John Trescot, a Democrat, asked Budget Director Paul Landers and the investment board several times whether and how the county’s capital improvement fund factored into the 2025 budget.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-county-gop-commissioners-muzzle-budget-director-at-public-meeting/article_c43d3746-b8db-11ef-a63e-f799bb19baf7.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

The meeting packet is HERE.

Warning signs, like the one shown above, were placed at Columbia River Park recently, in anticipation of the upcoming Veterans Memorial Bridge rehabilitation project.

The Veterans Memorial Bridge (Route 462) rehabilitation project, overseen by PennDOT, will involve a major overhaul of the bridge connecting Columbia and Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, including a complete deck replacement, structural repairs, and improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, with an anticipated three-year closure of the bridge during the middle phase of construction, likely starting around 2027, where traffic will be detoured to Route 30; the project aims to address structural deficiencies while enhancing safety and mobility for all users, including upgrades to the Wrightsville intersection with a roundabout and improved lighting to manage mayfly swarms.

Key points about the project:
Scope of work:
Extensive repairs to the bridge structure, including replacing the entire deck, barriers, and horizontal support beams, while preserving the existing arches and piers.

Bridge closure:
The bridge will be completely closed to all traffic (vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists) for approximately three years during the main construction phase.

Detour route:
Traffic will be directed to US Route 30 during the closure.

Pedestrian and cyclist accommodations:
Plans include improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access, including new bike lanes and wider sidewalks.

Intersection improvements:
A roundabout will be constructed at the Wrightsville intersection of Route 462 and Hellam Street.

Mayfly management:
Lighting modifications will be implemented to help mitigate issues caused by mayfly swarms.

Important details:
Project timeline: Construction is expected to begin around 2027 and last several years.

Public input: PennDOT is actively engaging with the community to address concerns and provide updates on the project.

Cost: The estimated project cost is significant, with figures exceeding $200 million.

[Source: AI Overview]

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/rosario-morales-rayan-e-firearms-not-be-carried-without-license-and-recklessly

Columbia Borough Council voted 4-2 on Tuesday night to approve a 25% tax increase, raising the millage rate to 10 mills under Ordinance 954. Councilman Eric Kauffman introduced the motion, which Councilman Kelly Murphy seconded. In a roll call vote, Councilors Peter Stahl and Joanne Geesey cast the two dissenting votes. Councilwoman Barbara Fisher was absent.

Mayor Leo Lutz stated he would not sign the ordinance.

According to PA State law:

“If the mayor does not approve the ordinance, the mayor shall return it with objections, which shall be entered upon the minutes, to the council at its next scheduled meeting occurring at least ten days after the meeting at which the ordinance was enacted by council.

(iii) Council shall reconsider the ordinance either at the meeting at which the vetoed ordinance was returned or not later than ten days after the meeting at any other scheduled meeting. If, after reconsideration, a majority of all elected council members plus one votes to override the mayor’s veto, the ordinance shall have full force and effect as if it had received the approval of the mayor. The vote shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names and votes of the members shall be entered upon the minutes.

(iv) A scheduled meeting, as used in this section, may be either a regular, special or reconvened meeting.

(3) If an ordinance is not returned by the mayor at council’s next scheduled meeting occurring at least ten days after its presentation to the mayor, the ordinance shall have full force and effect as if it had been approved by the mayor.”

LINK

Council also voted 4-2 on Resolution 2024-38 to adopt the budget for 2025. Once again, Stahl and Geesey were the two “no” votes.